Cube Escape: Seasons

Cube Escape: Seasons is the first game in Rusty Lake’s Cube Escape series. Laura Vanderboom revisits four periods of her life; you escape each memory in turn, then return to change what happened.

How the game plays

• Controls: mouse only.
• Menu: the gear icon in the top right corner.
• Inventory: down the right-hand side of the screen.
• Saving: automatic. On Windows the Collection saves under C:\Users\<your username>\Documents\Rusty Lake\Cube Escape Collection.

Memory: Spring 1964

Look left and zoom in on the board with the notes pinned to it.

Pay attention to the notes written in red ink. One asks “Can I eat Harvey’s egg?”; the other shows a diagram: “egg gives black cube”.

Getting the black cube

Zoom out, look right, zoom in on the chest of drawers.

Take the MATCHES from the top drawer and the SPOON from the third drawer down.

Zoom out and turn around (look left or right twice).

Open the cabinet under the sink and take the EMPTY POT and the BIRD FOOD.

Look left.

Zoom in on the parrot’s cage and put the food in the bowl. Click the parrot twice and take the RAW EGG.

Zoom out from the cage and look right.

Zoom in on the sink and fill the pot with water. Take the POT OF WATER and put it on the stove.

Turn the second knob from the left and light the burner with the matches. Put the raw egg into the pot and take the BOILED EGG. Put it in the egg cup on the left.

Hit the egg with the spoon six times and take the BLACK CUBE that appears. Zoom out.

Note that the room has no doors. You need another way out.

Getting out of the room

Look left.

Click the curtains twice to open them; the view moves to the window automatically.

Click the girl in the window to get PHOTO FRAGMENT 1.

• Achievement 5/8.

Zoom out from the window and click the light switch to turn the room light on.

Click the parrot in its cage repeatedly (more than twenty times).

• Achievement 6/8.

Zoom out and click the light switch again. [Translator’s note: the original says “on” here, but the light is already on at this point, so this is the switch back off.]

Look up and take PHOTO FRAGMENT 2 out of the light fitting.

Look back down and turn around.

Zoom in on the radio and take PHOTO FRAGMENT 3 from behind it.

Zoom out from the radio and open the cabinet.

Take the FIREWOOD from it. Put the wood in the fireplace and light it with the matches.

Zoom in on the alcove above the fireplace and place the black cube in it.

• Achievement 1/8.

Move your view up to the picture frame above and lay out the photo fragments you have collected.

Click the photograph three times to end the memory.

Memory: Summer 1971

Getting the black cube

Zoom out from the frame and look right.

Zoom in on the chest of drawers and take the TELESCOPE from the top of it.

Take the MATCHES from the top drawer and the SCREWDRIVER from the bottom drawer.

Zoom out from the drawers and look right.

Open the curtains and look out of the window. Point the telescope at the moon and zoom in until a window appears. Note the number written on the photograph there, read backwards: 1487.

Click the photograph several times, watch the nightmare scene, and you return to the room automatically.

Click the light switch to turn the room light on.

Look up and take the KEY out of the light fitting. Look back down and turn around.

Open the cabinet with the key you just found and you will discover a safe inside. Enter the code 1487.

Take the SHRIMP from the safe. Zoom out and look left. Zoom in on the oven and use the screwdriver on it.

Put the shrimp in the oven, turn the red knob, and light the gas with the matches. Close the door and wait a couple of seconds.

Open the door and zoom in on the photograph that has appeared inside the oven.

Click it several times and take the BLACK CUBE.

Getting out of the room

Zoom out from the stove and look right. Zoom in on the note on the board.

Read the text: “Remember this song?”. Zoom out and look at the alcove above the fireplace.

Take the CASSETTE and zoom out. Look right.

Zoom in on the chest of drawers and take PHOTO FRAGMENT 1 from behind it.

Click the soil in the flowerpot several times and take PHOTO FRAGMENT 2.

Zoom out from the cabinet, zoom in on the face of the grandfather clock, and take PHOTO FRAGMENT 3.

Zoom out from the clock and look left.

Zoom in on the tape player on the cabinet. Insert the cassette and press play.

Open the lid and take the MAGNETIC TAPE. Take the PLUG from the tape player and zoom out.

Zoom in on the lamp on the stool.

Attach the plug to the lamp’s cable and secure it with the screwdriver.

Put the plug in the socket and zoom out.

Turn around, switch the room light off, and turn back again.

Zoom in on the lamp, switch it on, and take PHOTO FRAGMENT 4. Zoom out from the lamp.

Throw the magnetic tape into the fireplace and light it with the matches.

Zoom in on the alcove above the fireplace and place the black cube in it.

• Achievement 2/8.

Lower the picture frame and lay out the photo fragments you have collected.

Click the photograph to end the memory.

Memory: Autumn 1971

Getting the black cube

Zoom out from the frame and turn your attention to the television.

Switch the television on and press channels 2, 5, 6, 4, 1.

• Achievement 8/8.

That code can be seen on the lid of the chest in the Collection’s Lake game.

Switch the television on and press channel selector 3 — the number 6 appears on the screen. Then work through the chain:

• Channel 6 — the screen tells you to “press 1”.
• Channel 1 — two egg cups with eggs.
• Channel 2 — a clock face with the hands at 4 o’clock.
• Channel 4 — the number 5.
• Channel 5 — the number 3.
• Channel 3 — the Roman numeral II.
• Channel 2 — the number 5 again.
• Channel 5 — the Roman numeral IV.

Switch to channel 4, click the cube on the screen, and take the BLACK CUBE.

Getting out of the room

Zoom out, look up at the ceiling, where blood is running down.

Click the eye on the ceiling six times to close it. Notice an object falling.

Look down and pick PHOTO FRAGMENT 1 up off the floor.

Zoom in on the board with the note.

Read the text: “I am afraid I will do something terrible.” Take PHOTO FRAGMENT 2 from behind the board. Zoom out and look right.

Zoom in on the chest of drawers and take the bloodstained KNIFE from the second drawer down.

Zoom out from the cabinet and look right.

Zoom in on the parrot’s cage and cut the bird’s belly open with the knife.

Click the wound and take PHOTO FRAGMENT 3.

Zoom out and look right.

Zoom in on the sink and take PHOTO FRAGMENT 4 from behind the tap.

Zoom out from the sink and look right.

Zoom in on the alcove above the fireplace and place the black cube in it.

• Achievement 3/8.

Lower the picture frame and lay out the photo fragments you have collected.

Click the photograph to finish the memory.

Memory: Winter 1981

Finding the blue cube

Zoom out from the frame and turn your attention to the radio. Note the time on its clock: 13:10.

Zoom out and look right.

Zoom in on the face of the grandfather clock and set the time to 13:10.

Zoom out, open the clock, and take the BLUE CUBE.

Getting out of the room

Zoom in on the chest of drawers and take the MATCHES from the top drawer and the HATCHET from the bottom drawer.

Zoom out from the cabinet and look right.

Use the hatchet to pry off the boards nailed across the window. You get FIREWOOD.

Zoom out and look right.

Zoom in on the fuel container on the wall to the left and pull BLUEPRINT FRAGMENT 1 out from behind it.

Zoom out and look at the framed photographs. Take BLUEPRINT FRAGMENT 2 from behind the frame.

Zoom out and look at the stove. Take BLUEPRINT FRAGMENT 3 from behind it.

Zoom out and look right.

Zoom in on the fuel vessel on the left and take BLUEPRINT FRAGMENT 4.

Zoom out, put the firewood in the fireplace, and light it with the matches.

Zoom in on the alcove above the fireplace and place the blue cube in it.

• Achievement 4/8.

Lower the picture frame and lay out the blueprint fragments you have collected.

Click the blueprint to move to the seasons screen.

Second pass: changing the past

From the seasons screen you now revisit the same four memories and alter them. The clock times you need are written beside the framed photograph for each season.

Winter 1981 (again)

Zoom out from the frame and look at the board of notes. Read the text: “Change the past”.

Zoom out and look left.

Zoom in on the framed photographs and note the time written beside the photograph for each season.

Zoom out and look right. Zoom in on the frame to leave the room.

Spring 1964

Light the candle with the matches, zoom out, and look right.

Zoom in on the face of the grandfather clock and set the time written next to the spring photograph: 9:05. Zoom out, open the clock, and take the SHOVEL, the KEY and the COAT HANGER.

Pick up the telephone receiver and you hear the line: “You change everything you touch.” Look left.

Use the key to open the cabinet the radio stands on. Enter the familiar code 1487 to open the safe.

Take the SEED. Zoom out and turn to the radio.

Use the coat hanger as an aerial and turn the tuning dial.

At 102 classical music starts to play.

Take the KEY that appears and zoom out. Look left.

Zoom in on the stove and take the POT OF WATER off it. Zoom out from the stove and look right.

Use the water from the pot to put out the fire in the fireplace and take the FIREWOOD. Look right.

Zoom in on the pot on the chest of drawers and dig the dead flower out with the shovel. Plant the seed in the hole, zoom out from the drawers, and look right.

Zoom in on the cage and unlock the door with the key you found.

Zoom out from the cage, look right, then look left again — the parrot is now sitting on the windowsill.

Zoom in on the window, prop the sash open with the firewood, and click the parrot — it flies away.

Zoom out, turn around, zoom in on the frame, and leave the room.

Summer 1971

Light the candle with the matches, zoom out, and look right.

Zoom in on the face of the grandfather clock and set the summer time: 03:55. Open the clock and take the WRENCH.

Turn around and zoom in on the stove. Use the wrench to turn the nut on the pipe and open a leak.

Zoom out and look right. Go to the frame and leave the room.

Autumn 1971

Zoom out from the frame and look right.

Zoom in on the face of the grandfather clock and set the autumn time: 11:25. Zoom out, open the clock, and take the MATCHES.

Look left. Zoom in on the candle and light it with the matches.

Leave the room through the frame.

Winter 1981: brewing the four juices

Take the PROZAC tablet out of the candle stub.

Zoom out and look right.

Pick the CACTUS FRUIT from the cactus that has grown from the seed. Zoom out and look right.

Zoom in on the window and break the glass with the hatchet. Zoom out and turn around.

Zoom in on the radio and turn the tuning dial.

At 109 classical music starts to play.

Zoom out and turn around.

Go to the parrot and take the FLOWER. Zoom out and look right.

Zoom in on the stove and pick the MUSHROOM that has grown there. Zoom out and look right.

Look at the board of notes and read them: “Cube + fire = escape the memory”, “Telephone + cube = change the past” and “Blue cube + fire = escape the memory”.

Study the table, which tells you which ingredient goes in which vessel:

• FLOWER — first vessel (kitchen)
• CACTUS FRUIT — second vessel (fireplace)
• MUSHROOM — third vessel (clock)
• PROZAC — fourth vessel (window)

Zoom out and look left.

Open the cabinet under the sink and take the GLASS.

Zoom in on the tap and fill the glass with water. Pour the water into the blender and add the flower. Switch the blender on and collect the FLOWER JUICE in the glass. Zoom out and turn to the fuel vessel on the wall.

Pour the flower juice into it and flip the toggle switch.

Turn back to the blender. Put the cactus fruit in and switch it on. Collect the FRUIT JUICE in the glass and zoom out.

Look right, zoom in on the fuel vessel above the fireplace, pour the juice in, and flip the toggle switch.

Go back to the kitchen.

Fill the glass with WATER and pour it into the blender. Add the mushroom and make MUSHROOM JUICE. Collect it in the glass and zoom out.

Turn around, zoom in on the vessel beside the clock, pour the juice in, and flip the toggle switch.

Return to the kitchen.

Fill the glass with WATER and pour it into the blender. Drop the Prozac tablet in and collect the PROZAC JUICE in the glass. Zoom out, look left, and pour the juice into the vessel on the wall by the window. Flip the toggle switch and zoom out.

Look left.

Pull down the lever on the device the hoses run to, behind the telephone. Go to the frame above the fireplace and leave the room.

Summer 1971 (again)

Go to the telephone and pick up the receiver.

• Achievement 7/8.

Leave the room.

Spring 1964: the ending

Zoom out from the frame and look right. Pick up the telephone receiver.

A white beam from the receiver turns the dark entity back into the woman.

Click the pieces of furniture to remove them.

Then click, in order: the grey sphere, the grey ball, the tree, the tree, the window, the window.

The first game in the Collection is complete.